Just got a new boat that I'll be towing a lot, it weights 7,500 lbs. I currently have 3.73 gears in the rear end, is this the best gear for towing regularly? Also, I'd appreciate any advice on performance upgrades you may suggest (exhuast, intake, etc). Thanks in advance for helping a rookie.

 

That gearing will be fine for a boat that size. I tow a 14,000lb 5th wheel with 3.73 gears, and my truck does fine on all but the biggest of hills. You would not be happy with the mileage decrease of your truck if you went with lower gears.

 

For that light of a load yes just kick it out of overdrive when going up hills to stop the lugging so your always in a power range as for performance products

Check out Riffraff Diesel Performance down in my signature and get a DP-Tuner, Isspro Gauges (Pyro, Boost, and Tranny), 6637 and finally a good MBRP exhaust.

 

There is going to be a lot of oil shearing when pulling.
I very highly recommend changing the rear end lube regularly.

 

Yeah, I should point out that I do tow with the O/D off if I am in a hilly area. If it is pretty plat where you are, then you will be fine in overdrive almost all the time with that load.

 

I have 3.73, and don't like the gap in "sweet spot" from 3rd to overdrive. OD is great for flatlandville, IN. But, out west, 3rd is a must for grades (of course). What bothers me is the rolling steep hills, I really wish I had a gear between 3rd and OD. If I could be at 2250 or 2300 rpms at 65mph, I would be one happy tower. I think I will be getting a Gear Vendors unit before next year's cross country 5er pull. I would then be able to hold in 3rd Over, all day long.

 

Yea 3.73's will be fine. I know its not safe but when towing my TT (10k lb) if I keep it at 72-75 mph I never kick out of OD. No mater what hill I come to.

 

.................................................. .................................

 

Jason, take a hard look at the US Gear Dual range. Its a much heavier built unit and much more versitile. I've owned both GearVendor and the US Gear. US Gear all the way. http://www.usgear.com/dual_range.htm

Barney

 

I'd look into a Mag-Hytec differential cover too. That fluid doesnt have a cooler by any means, so increasing the capacity is the only way to keep it cooler. Plus the thing looks badass as it is.

 

Your truck is designed to tow your new boat all day long, through the night and keep on going, and going, and going. You'll have enough power so you won't need any performance upgrades.

If you want more power just for fun, upgrading your exhaust and intake is a good start. My fifth wheel RV weighs 15k-16k depending on what is loaded inside and my truck does just fine with 3.73 gears. I use a K&N air filter in the stock airbox because my factory air box has a duct that collects cold air already so I didn't see the need for anything different. My factory exhaust seems fairly beefy and doesn't have a catalytic converter, so I didn't see any need to change the pipes. With the heavy load I am pulling, I did go with a Bully Dog programmer. I think it says "pup" on it or something....anyway, it has 3 settings, I chose the 1st (mild) 50hp setting for towing.

By far the biggest improvement was a new transmission. I am not suggesting you replace your tranny, but when the time comes, make sure you upgrade the torque converter, upgrade the tranny, add a Tugger kit and a trans cooler. Your truck will pull much better than ever before. If you decide to try out the EBPV mod with a converter lockup switch, you will have good exhaust braking for down hills as well.

All that being said. My neighbor has a 2000 F350 7.3 with 4.11 gears. I used his truck to tow my 8000 lb boat once and it was really nice. If you are really going to be towing your boat a lot....you may consider 4.11 gears. it would have to be worth your while though, gear swaps aren't cheap.

 

I agree, 75 seems to be a sweet spot for power in my pickup. Towing at 65 it will grab 3rd on a lot of hills, but at 75 it will keep on rolling in OD.